Method of and apparatus for filling containers



Dec. 12;, 1950 R. w. VERGOBBI l 2,533,641

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 26, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

QTTO RNE? f-MQLMM Dec. 12, 1950- R. w. vl-:RGoBBl 2,533,641

NETHD oF AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug.. 26, 1948 v6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ze? 165 Y? 55 INVENTOR.

Dec. 12, 1950 Filed Aug. 26, 1948 R. W. VERGOBBl METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEV Dec. 12, 1950 R. w. vERGoBBl METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR FILLNG CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 26, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. oer# ATTORNEV Dec. 12, 1950 R. w. VERGOBBI 2,533,641

METHODy oF AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 26, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ze? 15a' 186 E Eg 7 INVENToR. @4e/'7l M /yc/ BY Hwa/@AMM ATTORNEV Dec. l2, 1950 R. w. vERGoBBl 2,533,641

METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FoR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 26,l 194s s sheets-sheet 6 301 ZI-@10 g l 300 X31-4r`r`l g //A/ 344A 1v1-.9 v wv- `l L1A IN VEN TOR ATTUR/VEV Patented Dec. l2, 195() UNITED STATES EA'lf'lrlNTv OFFICE MErHoD'oFAND ABrARA'rUsFoR riLLINoooNTAINERs Roberti W. Vergobbi, Quincy, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited,l Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts rApplication August26, 1948, Serial No. 46,218

1-9V Claims; 1

This invention relates to a container filling machine embodying vacuum filing apparatus, and to a method'oi lling containers by vacuum;

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improvedcontainer filling machinefor lling containers with flowable solid material'in which provision is made for filling successive con'- tainers by vacuum in a manner such asV to effect an overflow froml the container being filledinto a second'container so as to obtain a compact uniform filling of the first' container andwhereby to enable successive containers to be filled in an economical, rapid and efficient manner. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved'method'of lling successive containers by vacuum which includes the step of diverting the surplus or overflow material `from a filled container into a succeeding container whereby to eiiectr rapid, economical'and eilicient Iilling of successive containers.

A still further object of theinventioniis to provide a novel and improved container iillingmachine embodying vacuum filling apparatus of the character above specied and inwhichprovision is made for introducing additional'weighed ma,-

terial into the completely filled' containers to bring the lled containers to a4 predetermined weight.

With these general objects in View and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the container filling machine, in the method of filling containers, and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specilication.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment oi the invention Figi is a iront' elevation offa container llingmachine embodying the present invention; Fig. ,2 is a similarview with some of the parts omittedjto illustrate` the control mechanism; Fig'. 3 is a. side elevation of the present container fillingmachine; Fig..4'is a cross-sectional viewY of the vacuum frllingappara'- tus taken on the line A-Aof Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lillingapparatus taken on the line 5-5ooflg. 4; Fig. 6 is aside elevation, partlyV iny crosssection illustrating. a.. material feeding devicev andv showing the Weighing scale `and associated ycontrol mechanis/m.;Y Fig. ',T. is a plan View of a portion of the machine. ShQWnin Fig. 1, to be referred to; Fig. `Sis afdetail View, partly in cross-,section of a portion .ofthe vacuum lling control mechanism illustrated lin. Fig. 1 3; Fig. 9 isasideelevation cfa modiedformjof vacuum lining.l apparatus,embodyinelthepreseljlt 2. invention; Fig. 10 is a, cross-sectional viewtaken on the line lnx-I0 of Fig, 9; and Fig. l1 is an inverted plan view of the vacuum filling head shown in Fig. 10.

In generaLthe present invention contemplates a novel' packaging machine and particularly a (flltainerv iilling machine embodying Yvacuum lling apparatus adapted for filling successivecontainers .with :inely divided flowable solidfinaterial such as flour, powdered sugar, orlike commodities. In the prior vacuum filling machines of which I am aware, it has been the prac-tice to eiiectY filling of a container by vacuum by continuing thefllling Operation'untl the container is completely iilled and `vthen withdrawing the surplus material or overflow into hthe overflowchamber or receptacle, and when the overflow receptacle became filled it was emptied vinto the main supply hopper.

`In accordance with the present invention provisionis made for filling successive containers by vacuum in such manner as to divertY the overflow from the container being lled into a second container thus eliminating the usual overflow receptacle, the necessiti7 for'periodcemptying of the same, and effecting av compact uniformv fill'- ing of the rst container in a rapid, .eiicient and economical manner.` In the illustrated embodiment of the invention; provision is made -for simultaneously operating upon twocontainers to effect' complete filling of onecontainer and difversion ofthe overflow to provide a partial load inv the second container, the containers then being advanced one station of'operation to elfect complete filling` Ofj the previously partially filled container and to provide a partial Iload in a vS1icceedirrg.empty container.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, as illustrated in Figs. l to 8, lthe machine isparticularly. designed for lling flexible Walled con? tainers suchas cartons with iinely divided solid Amaterialsthe .commercial cartons usually rbeing providedwithtopflaps adapted to be successively folded; down `and adhesively sealed to form the tQp. ,Closure after the carton has been filled. In itspreferred form theinvention contemplates a duplex` filling head comprising two chambers within which the containers are operatively sup.- ported, y:one of the filling heads having an opening 01"...passage thereinadapted to be Yconnectedjt-o a sourcepf suction andthe other fllingheadhaw ing amaterial inlet opening adapted t0 become nectedlto a supply. of the material, ,provision .being made. for. connecting .the two. `lillingy heads to A c establish.communicatun between. the interiors ,o

the two containers. Provision is preferably made for preventing collapse of the containers during the lling operation by maintenance of vacuum around the outside of the cartons, and, preferably the filling heads are provided with means engageable with the lateral surface of the mouth of the container for sealing the containers with respect to the filling heads to permit the interiors of the containers to be evacuated by suction connected to the suctionopening and for preventing leakage of the material into the evacuated space or shroud around the container.

The automatic machine illustrated in Fig. 1 is further provided with tapping station for settling the material in the container filled by the vacuum nlling apparatus and a Weighing station having a material feeding device controlled by the weighing mechanism for introducingadditional material into the container to provide a predetermined Weight therein. Provision is also made for intermittently advancing successive containers into operative position to the various stations and for controlling the operation of the machine to prevent initiation of a container moving cycle of operation until the container filling and Weighing operations have been completed.

The modied form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to 1l., is particularly designed for filling rigid containers, such as glass or metal containers, the invention being illustrated as embodied in a semi-automatic machine having a duplex iilling head and arranged to divert the overflow from one container into a second container to provide a partial load therein, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring novv to the drawings, and partcularly to Fig. 1, the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in an automatic packaging machine and particularly a container iilling and Weighing machine which may be similar in construction and mode of operation, excepting as hereinafter pointed out, to the machine illustrated in the United States Patent to Stanley R. Howard, No. 2,116,895, issued May 10, 1938, to which reference may be had for features not disclosed in detail in the present application.

In general, the illustrated machine comprises a container iilling and weighing machine having novel duplex vacuum lling apparatus, indicated generally at it, designed for simultaneous operation upon two containers, a tapping device, indicated generally at l2, adapted to settle the material in the containers iilled by the vacuum filling apparatus, and a material feeding and weighing device, indicated generally at le, arranged to weigh the container and to introduce additional material thereto to provide a predetermined Weight of material therein.

The empty containers are fed into the machine by a continuously driven conveyor 2i), the foremost container engaging a lined stop 22, in which position successive foremost containers are arranged to be transferred into the path of successive carrier arms i8 by a pusher plate 24. The carrier arms i8 are attached to an intermittently operated conveyer chain iii arranged to advance the containers one station each cycle of operation, the completely filled and weighed containers being delivered out of the machine on a discharge conveyer Sd. The illustrated machine is arranged to operate in successive cycles during one portion of which the vacuum filling, tapping and Weighing operations take place, and, during another portion of which the containers are advanced one station of operation', provision being 4 made for controlling the machine to prevent initiation of the container moving cycle of operation until the lling and Weighing operations have been completed, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The pusher plate 24 is arranged to be operated in timed relation to the carrier arms I8 and, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the pusher plate 24 is mounted to one end of a bar 36 connected by parallel links 3l, 38 to a short link 39 forming a fourbar linkage pivotally mounted at 48 to impart a substantially straight line motion to the pusher plate 24. As better shown in Fig. 3, the parallel linkage is arranged to be operated by a crank member 42 fast on a crank shaft 44 and connected to the parallel linkage by a connecting rod 46. The crank shaft is arranged to be rotated from a one-revolution cam shaft 48 through a chain and sprocket drive indicated generally at 5 l, the shaft 48 being driven, as shown in Fig. 2, from a continuously rotating drive shaft 53 through bevel gear connections 55, 51, vertical shaft 59, and bevel gear connections Bl, E3. The cam shaft 48 is arranged to be controlled to make one revolution during the package filling and Weighing cycle of operation by a one-revolution clutch, indicated generally at 65, which may comprise a pawl and ratchet clutch arranged to be actuated through control means to be hereinafter described. The main driving shaft 53 may be continuously rotated in any usual or preferred manner, as by an electric motor, not shown, belted to a pulley 41 fast on the shaft 53.

The vacuum filling apparatus, indicated generally at I0, comprises in general a pair of spaced iilling heads 26, 28 designed for simultaneous operation upon two containers advanced into a position beneath the filling heads by the carrier chain I6, and elevated into operative position to the filling heads by elevating mechanism, indicated generally at 28. In the operation of the machine, during one cycle of operation, the foremost container, elevated into operative engagement with the filling head 28, is provided with a full load of material and the second container, elevated into operative engagement with the filling head 26, is provided with a partial load comprising the overflow produced during the filling of the completely filled container. During the succeeding cycle of operation, the partially iilled container is advanced and elevated into operative position to receive a complete load, the overflow from this lling operation being diverted into a succeeding empty container to provide a partial load therein.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, each filling head 26, 28 of the duplex unit includes an upper section comprising a substantially rectangular block of a size adapted to lit into the open end of the container, each filling head being further provided with depending side-walls forming vacuum chambers 3|, 33 open at their lower ends and of a size sufficient to receive the containers, herein shown as a flexible carton li having closing flaps I3. The cartons are arranged to be elevated into operative position to their respective iilling heads Velevation of the containers into the filling heads,

thus sealing the containers within the vacuum f chambers. Theupper sections of the -llingfhead's or blocksf26, 2 8, areiormed as part of theupper wall of the vacuum chambers and'r each ofA the four'side-wallsof the-chambers arevv spaced fromthe adjacent face 54- of-v the filling heads soas to accommodate-the upsta-nding top-iiaps I3 of the cartons when the latter-are iniilling position.

One ofthe lling heads, 23; is provided with a central opening 5d arranged to communicate with asource of suction; such` asa suction line u 58; whereinsuction* is maintained by a suction pump; not shown, andvvhichY is controlled by a three-wayvalve 6B forinitiating and terminating the iilling. operation, theV valve 60 having ports `for establishing*communicationbetweenthe suction line 53^and the suction opening 56, and havinga port 49 open to the atmosphere. The secondvacuum--iillinghead, 28, is providedwith amaterial-inlet 52 conneetedby a passageway 61' to) a supply-v hopper' 64- supportedabovethe inlet to permitthe solid'iiowable material to. be draw-ndownwardly through the-inlet 62 during the filling operation. The flow of material into the lldisposedin thepassageway 6-1 between the hopper and the material inlet. Each lling head is furtherprovidedfwith an-opening 68, 10 communicatingvvith the interior of the containers beingiilled-and connected by a pipe or conduit- 12 extending between thelling heads.

In order to evacuate the containers, provision` ismade for sealing the mouthlof the body portionthereof around Vthe lling heads or blocks 26,

28 bysealing means engageable-with the ex-v ternal lateral surface ofy the container, and as hereinshown, the sealing element may comprise a resilient tubeg14 fitted Within grooves formed in the walls of the lling heads. tubes are arranged to vbe expanded into-engagement with the body of thecarton near the top of the body portionso that the carton may-be cornpletely sealed against the rilling head to enable theyacuum tovbe produced'within the cartons, and torprevent passage ofthe finely divided material into the space around the body of the carton, when such space is evacuatedto prevent collapseoof: the carton, as will bedescribed. As hereinlshown, the expansion and contraction of the tubes 14 may be controlled by a three-way valve 15 Vconnected to one of the filling heads 26 by a pipe 13 and connected between the filling heads.. by a pipe line 16, the valve 15 being connectedto `a sourceof air pressureby a pipe 1I. The valve.15 Ais further provided with an atmospheric vent 11v to permit releaseof the pressure at the end ofthe filling operation.

In-some instances it is desirable-that provision be. made for preventing collapse of the walls of the container during the lling operation, particularly with flexible `walled cartons. For this purpose a-suctioninlet is provided at 18 in one of the walls of each chamber 3 l, 33 and connected by apipe 8l and vpipe 83-to a-passageway 85 communicating with the suction opening 56. As herein showny the inner face of one wall of Ieach chamber 3l 33-ischannel1ed at 81 and a peripheral passageV is-l formed at the bottom of each chamber by openingss, one of which is connectedwith the channels so that when the threeway valve 50" is positioned to evacuate the interiorsof the containers-vacuum is set up around and beneath each container, thus substantially egualizingthe pressures and preventingv collapse ofithe containers. At the termination of the fillL ing operation atmospheric pressureis supplied-by The resilient 6;. the proper--y dispositionl of the valve 68? to-A withinand'@ without the container, thelsuctionviine beingcut oir at such a time as-willl bev4 apparent from Fig. 8.'

Theelevatingmechanism, 29,i forelevating thev containers into operative 1 position to the vacuum filling` heads. willnovv be described; As herein shown; in the operation off the machine-the con-1 tainer-s are-successively advancedon to thecontainer supporting and elevating members: 58 whichare secured to theupper. ends of elevating rods 18 slidinglymountedin bear-ingsV 8D? formed in a bracket 82 attached to the machine frame. The lower ends of the-elevating rods-18 are connected by links 84 to-theouter-endlo a cam lever V86 vpivotally mounted at 83'- in a bracket90 attached to the machine-frame. The cam lever 86'fis providedwith a-roller 92 arranged to cooperate with` a closed cam s4' fast on al cam shaft 96', and in the operation ofA the machine the containers supported on the-closure members 50 are elevated intoY operative engagement With theduplex vacuum filling heads 25.and-f 281 The cam shaft 96 is arranged to be rotated throughY a chain and sprocket connectionv 98' from the cam shaft 48 to effect elevation-of'f the containersA during the container filling and weighing cycleof operation.

Fromthe descriptionfthus far, it willvbeseen that in the-,operation of themachine,r the containers Il disposed beneath theiilling'heads 26; 2'8 andV supported on the end-closure andv container supporting members 58 maybe elevatedto insertthe containers into the -vacuumehambers 3|, 33 respectively and to effect sealing'of the vacuum chambers. Suitable guides llmay be provided at the lowenend oi-v each lling block toguidev thetop flaps i3 up into theclearance' spaces- I82 formed between the block and thedependingV side walls,V and, when in filling position, the lowerportionsv of the blocks 26, 28 extend into the carton so that the sealing tubes 14 will be disposed to engage the body portion of the, carton at or below the score line. The lower end of'the vacuum inlet 56 may beprovided with a` screen I 04' of suitable mesh to preventv the passage of the finely divided solid material; The three-Way valve 15 may now be opened, as shown in Fig. 8,to connect the tubes 14 with the air pressure line 1'l to effect a tight seal of va portion of the body of the carton against the filling head.' Simultaneously therewith, the three-way valve 60 is Aopened to connect the vacuum line 58 with the suction opening 56 communicating with the interior ofthe container in the chamber 31, and with the conduit 8|, 83 communicating with the space about the outside of the carton. As illustrated in Eig. 3, the valves 60' and 15 are arranged to be actuated by a cam liiifast o n the one-revolution cam shaft dathrough connections includinga cam roller l jcarried'byone arm of a lever H0 pivotallymounted'at I |2,1the second arm of the lever being connected by a link IIA to a'bell crank H6 connectedV tothe valve 68; The bell crank H6 is connectedto the valve 1'5" by a link H8.` The roller HI8v is urged into engagement with its cam |86 byl a spring |81 connected to the rol1erarmas shown in Fig. 3; Thus, in the operation of themachine the valves` 60 and 15 are simultaneously openedr to eiiect sealing of the flaps othejcontainers against the iilling heads. and `to eiiect evacuation of the, containersin, the` chambers 3l, 33 by virtue ofthe communicating.

9 lof the cycle and lto intermittently advance the containers `one station -of operation vduring afsc- Iond portion oa-cycle of operatiomandasrherein shown, the carrierfohain |16-is .arranged `to vbe rotated Vfrom themaindri-ving shaft `5'3 through 'a one revolution ypawl vand ratchet clutch mecha-- nism, indicated generally-at 202 and 4thrmighcooperating bevel egears-254 to a -vertical shaft206 operatively connected 2to the Icarrier chain drive sprocket. `Provision is made for controlling the one-revolution clutch 202 lto effect Ythe -package movingcycle of yoperation when the package llingland weighing operations vhave been-completed through a -pawl stop .mechanism 208 having opposed lugs l'2|, 2 |2. The pawl stop2-08 is operaitively connected by a -link 2M Ato one=arm-2|6 of a bell crank pivotally vmounted at 2 I8, the second larm 220- of the bell crank being provided 'withja lroller 222 arranged tocooperate with the cam ldisk III-2. Thus in the `operation of the machine, when the package on the scalepan l|54reaches -its predetermined weight to -eleot rockingof the yoke |82, through the scale actuated control mechanism |88 above described, the disk |12 is permitted to make one-half revolution -to' effect rocking of the ybell ecrankin a, clockwisedirec'tion .thus rocking the pawl-stop-208 and permittingengagement of the pawl and yratchetfclutch 202 for one revolution -tofelect the package moving cycle of operation. Provision is :also made -for preventing :initiation xof vthe lpackage moving -Lcylcle \until the elevator :mechanism at -the container filling station is .returned to .its flowermost position, and .for `this purpose a :second ,pawl `stop1209, 'similar to the illustrated lpawllstop208 and disposedfdifrectly behind the same, .is operatively connected lto Athe elevator #mechanism through linkage indicated generally at 224, arranged to be actuated Aupon fdescent of the `elevating mechanism.

I-'he cam 'roll r|22 is maintained rin rengagement rwith -the -cam surface -of the disk -I--1\2by alcoil spring 230 `interposed between the Aundersuriface of lthe arm 220 of the A'bell crank and -the ltop -of 5th@ machine spleten thus normally urging lthe ipawl stop i208 in'acounter-clockwise direction, V.as :illustrated tofelfect disengagement lof -the clutch 202, the 'linkage1224 being likewise urged :in a -`direction to maintain the second =pawlstopv209 in clutch idisengaging position yby Aa spring `(255 until actua-ted to withdraw Athe p awl stop upon Ydescent ofthe elevatingmechanism. Each paw] .stop arm `208, `209 may -beeprovided with a friction connecting element :2|.I` arranged to .permit Africtional sliding .movement of the arms 5208, 209 relative to the .links 2|4, -2|5 to thereby .permit resetting Eci. the pawl stops .to idisengaging .position vby .engagement of fa cam surface 2H of'the one revolu- A'tion clutch -202 with the lugs 2|2, as described in the Howard patentlNo. A2,1'1 6 ,895 -abovere'f erred to. Thefbell crankiarm 220 is also .provided with the -usual Yconnecting linkage, indicated at .$221, `see '6, for .locking the scale vbeam |50 at 'the end of the weighing operation and for -unlocking the scale Abeam to initiate a weighing'cycle .at the end of the package moving .cycle of operation.

`The arm2`l`6 of vthe bell crank maybe connected Aat its upper end `to rthe usual :clutch mechanism 229 to xeffect Irotation of the .hopper :stirrers 323| through .therlhain and sprocket drive 233 .during the mateialieeding and weighing operation.

From the description thus far it will be ob,- served that Ain .the operation .of te machine the pawlstoparms 208, v2119 arenormallymaintalned in a ,position to effect disengagement 'ofi the Drie :package lmoving cycle of operation until then-vac- `uurn `filling and Weighing operations `have 'been completed, and, lin practice either the vacuum lling or the weighing operation "may be corn- Apl'eted rst-to eiectrocking of itsrespectivepawl stop, Iengagement of the clutch 202 being prevented -until both -pawl-stops 208, 209 have been withdrawn. l

Upon completion -of the vacuum lling and Weighing operations, the package -moving cycle of operation is initiated, as described, to'advance 4the containers one station-of operation, and in the continued operation of the machine provision Yrevolution duringv 4the package `moving cycle .of -operation through vconnections from the one-revolution clutch 202 Aincluding -a gear train '256, .as lshown -in Fig. 7. The connections between the Cam 252 and the yresetting, bar |85 include a co- =operating-camroll250carried by an arm :2.60 fast on one end of a short shaftl262 rockingly mounted in a bracket 264. An arm 266 fast on Ithe other Yend of the shaft 262 is connected tothe relset'ting bar |86. The resetting baris arranged Atobe .moved to the left, viewing Fig. 2 .at-the end .of thepackage moving cycle of operation to effect engagement of the roller |98 carried thereby with Athe arm 200 fast -on the rocker vshaft |90, thus effecting resetting of the mechanical tripping mechanism |88 and rocking of the yoke arm [86 in a 'clockwise direction through the previously described linkage, and permitting the cam `disk |12 to make one-half revolution. During this half revolution the shutters |58, |60 are opened and the'bell crank arm 220 is permitted Vto Vbe rocked nupwardly by the coil spring 230 to effect unlocking of the scale beam. The resetting bar is further provided with a depending member A21|) arranged to engage an arm 212 Aoperatively com nected toa paiwl stop2'l4 so that when thenjesettingbar |86 is -moved to the left, viewingFig. 2, the -pawl stop- 214 will be moved to `permit operative engagement of the pawl and ratchet 228 .and initiation of the vacuum llingoperation,

.as described. A

Referring now to lFigs. 9, l), and 1l, a 'modiied form of duplex vacuum filling apparatus is therein illustrated as embodied in a semi-automatic machine, and is .particularly designed for lling rigid containers, such as :glass or lmetal containers. The modied form of filling Vapparatus Aincltules a duplex iilling head titi] provided with a material inlet "302 incommunication with the interior of Vone container 3M, and, is provided with va-sucton opening 366 in communication with ltlie interior of the second container 308. The .materialin'let302 is connected to a supply Ahopper 30 l, and, the suction opening'306 is connected to 'a source of vacuum by a passageway 344, pipe 342, control valve i3d-and vacuum line340. The container engaging face of the duplex filling head `4isprovided -wlith resilient portions herein shown ascomprising sealing rings 309, 3H pressedinto `armular grooves inthe underside of the head-and revolution hitch '.202 "to '.plfevllt initiation 'df a "7 arranged Aimvsealing engagement with the -upper festablished between the interiors of the two con'- `tainers by openings 310, 312, connected by a pas"- sageway 314.

Provision is made for elevating the containers into operative engagement with the filling head and, as herein shown, the containers are placed ,upon an elevating plate 316 mounted at the upper end of a vertically reciprocating rod 318 slidingly mounted in a bearing member 311 attached to the underside of the platen 319. The vertically reciprocating rod 318 is connected by a link 320 to one arm 322 of a foot treadle pivotally mounted vat 324, the treadle being normally urged in a "counter-clockwise direction by a spring 325 connected to the second arm 321 of the treadle. The rod 320 isyieldingly connected to the treadle arm 322 by a coil spring 328 interposed between a swivel block 330, carried by the lever 322, and a collar 332 fast on the rod 320. A second collar 334 fast on the lower end of the rod 323 is ar- ,ranged for engagement with the opposite side of lthe swivel 330 to effect positive descent of the "elevating plate 316. Thus in the operation of the machine, when the operator steps on the treaf'le 321 the rigid containers 364. 3D3 are yieldingly elevated into sealing engagement with Vthe sealing rings 309, 31 1 of the duplex filling head Y3013 to seal the containers to the filling head.

Provision is made for evacuating the con tainers and initiating the filling operation when .the containers have been elevated into sealing engagement with the filling head, and for this purpose the valve 336 which may comprise a threeway valve is operatively connected to the treadle lever 322 by a link 338. The three-way lvalve is provided with ports arranged to establish communication between the vacuum lines 340, 342 when the treadle arm 322 is rocked upwardly, and, is further provided with a vent port 346 arranged to be uncovered by the valve 338 when the treadle lever 322 is rocked downwardly at the end of the filling operation. The operating connections between the treadle arm 322 and three-way valve 336 are so arranged that in the operation of the machine, the containers are first yieldingly engaged with the sealing rings '309, 311 of the filling head 330, and during further movement of the treadle lever 322 and compression of the coil springs 328, the valve 336 is rocked to cut off the atmospheric port 346 and to open the line 342 to the source of suction to initiate the filling operation. Conversely, when the treadle is rocked in the opposite direction at the end of the filling operation, the valve is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction to cut off the source of vacuum and to open the interiors of the containers to the atmosphere prior to disengagement of the mouths of the containers from the sealing head.

From the above description it will be observed 1n the operation of the machine the containers are placed on the elevating plate 316 in alignment with the sealing rings 309, 311 and are yieldingly elevated into engagement with the sealing head 300, whereupon, during continued movement of the treadle arm 322 the valve 336 is rocked to effect evacuation of the containers, and material is withdrawn from the supply hopper 301 through the material inlet 302 and into the container 304. When the container 304 becomes completely filled, the surplus material is directed into the second container 308 through the passageways 310, 314, 312 to proi vide a partial load therein. As illustrated in lFiglll, the suction opening 306 communicating with the container 308 may be provided with a 'screen 348 of a mesh suitable to prevent the passage of the finely divided solid material. If, in operation, the screen 348 becomes clogged, the operator may break the suction by operation of the three-way valve, thus admitting air through the suction opening 312 which operates to blow the material adhering to the surface of the screen back into the container. The vacuum may then immediately 'be reestablished to complete the filling operation. Upon partial iilling of the container 308 by the overilow from the completely filled container 304, the operator releases the treadle lever 322 which operates to first actuate the valve to open the containers to the atmosphere, and thereafter effect disengagement of the containers from the sealing head during the continued descent of the elevator plate 315. In the continued operation of the machine the operator may remove the completely filled container 304 and advance the partially iilled container 308 into a position beneath the sealing ring 311 and provide a succeeding container into operative position beneath the sealing ring 300 in preparation for a succeeding cycle of operation wherein the previously partially filled container ,308 may be completely filled and the succeeding container provided with a partial loa/i by the overflow from the completey lled container.

When filling transparent containers, such as glass containers, the operator may discontinue the nlling operation when he observes that the second container is partially filled, or, if the container be non-transparent the filling operation may be discontinued after a predetermined time has elansod to provide the second container with a partial load.

The gate member 66 may be used if desired to shut off the now of material from the' hopper 64 until a relatively high vacuum has been established in the containers, and then opened to permit the rapid flow of material into the rst container and overflow to be diverted into the second container. This operation results in production of a compact and most economical filling of the container by reason of the production of the high vacuum therein.

From thelabove description of the selected embodiments of the invention, it will be observed that the illustrated duplex vacuum filling structures provide a simple and convenient apparatus capable of rapidly filling successive containers `with finely divided solid flowable material by vacuum and wherein the surplus material from a fllled container may be diverted into a second container to provide a partial load therein, thereby eliminating the usual over-flow bowl and its conseouent disadvantages.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a vacuum operated filling machine for filling containers with iiowable solid material, a duplex filling head adapted for air tight connection with the open upper end portions of two containerssupported in filling position, said filling head being provided with a material inlet communicating with the interior of one of said containers, and being provided with a suction openving communicating with the second of said con- 'ams-stoel -tainersgandmeans for establishing communicationbetween the .interiorsof the two containers whereby Yto :cause evacuation of both containers by suction applied to said suction opening and thereby effect an overflow from said first container intosaid second containerso as to obtain compact uniform lling of said rst container, .and automatically operating valve means for controlling the filling operation.

2. In a vacuum 4operated filling machine for filling containers with flowable solid material, Vfilling mechanism comprising two lling heads adapted for air tightconnection with the open upper end portions of two containers, supported in filling position one filling head being provided with amaterial inlet communicating with the interior of one of said containers, the other yfilling head being provided with a suction opening communicating with a second container, and means `for establishing communication between the interiors of the two containers whereby to cause `evacuation of both containers by suction applied to said suction opening and thereby effect an overflow from said first container into said sec- :ond container so as to obtain compact uniform filling of said first container, and cam-operated valvemeans for automatically initiatingr and terminating the filling operation.

3. In a vacuum operated filling machine for .filling containers with flowable solid material, a duplex filling mechanism comprising two filling `heads'adapted for air tight connection with the fopen upper end portions of successivevcontainers supported in filling position, one filling head being provided with a material inlet communicatlinwwith the interior of onefcontainer, theother filling head being provided with a suction opening communicating with a second container, means for establishing communication between the interiors of thecontainers whereby to cause "evacuation of both containers by suction applied to said suction opening land thereby effect an overflow from said first container into said second container so as to obtain compact uniform filling of said first container, automatically operating means for initiating and terminating the filling operation, and container moving means operative between successive filling operations for .moving the second container into the position of the first container and for moving an empty container into the poistion of said second container.

4. In a vacuum operated filling machine for filling containers with flowable solid material, .a duplex filling head comprising two chambers ispaced apart and arranged to receive a containf -er in operative filling position in each chamber, -one of said chambers being provided with a material inlet communicating with one container., the other chamber being provided with a suction opening communicating with the second container, connections between the chambers 'adapted to cause evacuation of both containers by suc tion applied to said suction opening and thereby effect .an overflow from `said first .container into fsaid second container l"so as to obtain Acompact uniform filling of said first container,:and control means for initiating and Yterminating the filling operation.

`5. in 1a vacuum operated :filling Vmachine for filling containers with Vflawable solid material, a duplex filling mechanism comprising two spaced chambers, each chamber having a filling head, .one vfilling head being provided with Va material inlet and the Yother filling Yhead 'being provided with Ya suction lopening, .each k'chamber hav Aing an opening :through which --a :container :may be introduced, vair ytight closure `means for 4the last mentioned openings, imeans providing a 'seal foi-engaging Athe .open upper fendlportions of .the containers `supported `in filling g-position, a Vconduit extending between said yfilling .heads and communicating with the 'interior of each 'con- Ytainer to rcause evacuationof both containers liysuctio'n'applied -to said suction'opening and thereby effecten overflow from `said vfirstconftaineriinto said'second'container so as .to obtain Iciorripact `uniform filling .of :said first container, andfsuction controlmeans for initiatingand terminating the filling Operation.

6. lIn a Ivacuum operated filling machine for filling containers with fiowable vsolid material, a duplex lling fmechanism vcomprising two spaced chambers,each chamber having va filling head, one filling head being provided with a material inlet and the "other filling head vbeing ,provided with =a fsuction opening, feach `chamber having an opening through which xa `container be introduced, air tight closure means for the last mentioned openings, Ameans vproviding a `seal for yengaging the v,open upper `end portions of the-containers supported in 'filling position, a 4conduit extending between :said filling heads rand lcommunicating with the interior of yeachfcontaineivto causefevacuation of both con-` '7. In a vacuum operated filling machine for l filling containers with owable solid material, a duplex filling mechanism comprising two spaced chambers, each chamber having a filling l ead, one filling head being provided with a material inlet and the other lling head being'provided with a suction opening, each `chamber having an opening through which a container may be introduced, air tight closure means for the last mentioned openings, means providing `a seal for engaging the open upper end portions of the containers supported in filling position, a conduit extending between `said filling heads and vcommunicating with the `interior of veach container to cause evacuation of both containers by suction applied to Ysaid suction opening to permit complete `filling 'of one container 'and to .permit the overow of material from one container to pass into the 'second container, suction control means for initiating and terminating the yfilling operation, and means for intermittently advancing successive containers one station of voperation between filling operations.

8. In a 'vacuum operated filling machine for filling containers with flowable solid material, a `duplex filling head comprising two chambers kspaced apart and yeach having an opening lat one end to permit introduction of a container to be filled, lmeans for sealing each opening',

for sealing the open `upper end portions of the 'containers in air tight relation to the filln ing head, one of said chambers having a mate- 'rial inlet communicating with one container, .and the second chamber .having fa suction `open-- ing .communicating with .the other container,` .a conduit Yproviding communication between the interiors of Yboth vcontainers whereby .to cause `evacuation .of both :containers by suction :applied 'to said suction opening, to permit complete iilling of one container and overflow to pass from the first container into the second container, suction control means for initiating and termi- `nating the lling operation, and means for advancing the containers one station of operation between successive filling operations.

9. In a machine of the character described, vacuum operated filling mechanism for iilling containers with iiowable solid material comprisand material feeding means adapted to provide an additional increment of material to bring the container up to a predetermined weight, and means controlled by the Weighing scale for terminating the ioiv of material when the predetermined weight is reached.

10. In a machine of the character described, cyclically operating container moving means, vacuum operated iilling mechanism for lling the containers with owable solid material comprising a duplex nlling head adapted to cornplete the lling of one container and to divert the overllow of material into a second container', weighing mechanism including a weighing scale and material feeding means arranged to provide an additional increment oi material to bring the container up to a predetermined weight, means controlled by the weighing scale for tervminating the ilow oi' material when the predevable solid material comprising a duplex filling head adapted to complete the filling ci one ccntainer and to divert the overflow of material into a second container, container moving means for advancing the containers one station oi operation between illing operations, and means -for controlling the operation of the machine to prevent initiation of a container moving cycle of operation until the filling cycle is completed.

i2. In a machine of the character described having a container moving cycle of operation and a container filling cycle ot operation, vac-dni operated ii ingl mechanism for filling the conta.N erf-5. .,f'ith flowable solid material comprising a duplex lling head adapted to complete the lling of one container to divert the overflow of material into a second container to provide a partial load therein, means for moving the containers into and from operative filling position, means for advancing the containers one station` of operation between lling operations, and means for controlling the operation or the machine tc prevent initiation of a container moving cycle oil operation until the iilling cycle is completed.

13. In a machine oi the character described having' a container moving cycle of operation and a container lling cycle or operation, vaco- -urn operated iilling mechanism for filling containers with flowable solid material comprising a duplex illing head adapted to complete the lling of one container and to divert the overflow of material into a second container to provide a partial -load therein, means for moving the containers into and,A from operativelling position, means for advancing the containers one station of operation between filling operations, and control means operatively connected to said moving means for preventing initiation of a container moving cycle oi operation until the lling operation is completed and the moving means has returned to its initial po Lon.

ifi. In a machine of the character described having a container' moving cycle of operation and a container hlling cycle ci operation, vacuum 'operated filling mechanism for iilling the containers with iiovvafoie solid material comprising a duplex iilling head adapted to complete the filling of one container and to divert the overflow from said one container into a second container to provide a partial load therein, means for moving the containers into and ont of operating filling position, means for advancing the containers one station ci operation each container moving cycle, weighing mechanism including a weighing scale and material feeding means arranged to provide additional increment of material to bring the container up to a predetermined weight, means controlled by the weighing scale lor terr inating the now of material when said predetermined Weight is reached, and control means operatively connected to said weighing scale and to said moving means ior preventing initiation of a container moving cycle of operation nntil the container filling and Weighing operations are completed.

l5. in a vacuo. i operated iillin'g machine for filling containers with ilovvable solid material, a duplex filling mechanism comprising two spaced chambers, each chamber having aiiiling head, one lilling head being provided with a material inlet and the other filling head being provided with a suction opening, each chamber having an opening through which a container inavA be introduced, means for moving the containers into and out of said chambers, air tight closure means for said chamber openings, means providing a seal engageable with the open Lipper end portions of the containers supported in 'filling position, a conduit extending between said filling heads and communicating with the interior of each container to cause the evaculation of both containers by suction applied to said suction opening to permit the complete lling of one container and to permit the overflow from one container to pass into the second container, tion control mea n for initiating and terminating the iilling operation, means icr intermittently advancing the containers one station of operation, means ior controlling the operation of the machine to prevent initiation of the intermittent movement or' the containers until the rilling operation is completed and the container moving means has returned to its lowered position.

16. In a vacuum operated filling machine for filling containers with iiowable solid material, duplex lling mechanism comprising two spaced chambers, each chamber having a filling head, one filling head being provided with a material inlet and the other filling head being provided with a suction opening, each chamber having an opening through which a container may be introduced, means for moving the containers into and out of said chambers, air tight closure means vfor said chamber openings, means providing a seal engageable with the open upper end portions of the containers supported in iilling position, conduit extending between said iilling heads and communicating with the interior oi each ccnmit the complete lling of one container,` and to permit the overow from one container to pass into the second container, suction control means for initiating and terminating the lling operation, means for intermittently advancing the containers one station of operation between illing operations, means for establishing a vacuum around the body of each container in its respective chamber during the filling operation to prevent collapse of a exible container, and means ior controlling the operation of the machine to prevent initiation of the intermittent movement of the containers until the filling operation is completed and the moving means returned to its initial position.

17. In a vacuum operated lling machine for filling containers with ilowable solid material, a duplex lling head comprising two chambers spaced apart and arranged to receive a container in operative lling position in each chamber, one of said chambers being provided with a material inlet communicating with one container, the other chamber being provided with a suction opening communicating with the second container, connections between the chambers adapted to cause evacuation of both containers by suction applied to said suction opening and thereby permit complete lling of said one container and to direct the overflow from one container into the second container, means for breaking the vacuum at the end of the lling operation, and means disposed in said material inlet for controlling the ow of material therefrom.

18. In the method of lling containers in succession by vacuum, the steps comprising moving two containers into filling position, evacuating both containers, lling one container, and diverting the overflow therefrom into the second container so as to obtain a compact uniform filling of the first container, breaking the vacuum and moving the filled container from filling position and the second container into a position to be completely filled, moving a third and empty container into the lling position occupied by the aforesaid second container and repeating the aforesaid steps.

19. in the method of illing containers in succession by vacuum, the steps comprising moving two containers into lling position, evacuating both containers, filling one container, and diverting the overiiow therefrom into the second container so as to obtain a compact uniform filling of the rst container, breaking the vacuum and moving the filled container from lling position and the second container into a position to be completely lled, moving a third and empty container into the lling position occupied by the aforesaid Second container, and introducing additional Weighted increments into the completely filled containers to bring them toa predetermined Weight.

ROBERT W. VERGOBBI.

REFERENCES CITED kThe following references are of record in the Ele of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,037,467 Hapgood Apr. 14, 1936 2,054,492 Young Sept. 15, 1936 

